SAFE COMMUNITIES

]Supporting the community to reduce family violence by increasing awareness and discussion.
Advising people in violent relationships about programs and other support available to them.
Facilitating partnerships between the region's services and agencies to develop a locally driven, collaborative resides to family violence and its related issues in our community.
Early intervention strategies to raise awareness of the symptoms of family violence and encourage participation in support programs.

SPEAK UP

FamilyViolence can be ...
Physical, Emotional or Sexual
You don’t have to be hit to be hurt
It can involve partners, parents, children, siblings, extended family, carers and past intimate relationships.
It occurs when someone harms you, controls you or makes you feel afraid
Just being exposed to family violence is damaging
A healthy relationship is when you are ...
- treated with respect
- safe and never scared
- free to say no
- free to make your own choices
- free to see your friends and family when you want
- able to be yourself
- able to compromise, say sorry and talk arguments out
For help 1800RESPECT
.

GOOD VALUES, STRONGER FAMILIES STRONGER COMMUNITIES

The effects of family violence aren’t limited to what happens behind closed doors
The fall out affects the victims, their families and friends, as well as those who carry out the violence
It has impacts on our feelings of safety, how we interact with each other as a community and overshadows the vibrancy and quality of our everyday environment.
The #SayNO2familyviolence campaign is aimed at helping to reduce incidents of family violence and developing Maryborough as a thriving, safe and healthy place to live and work
At the local level and in the short term, this means equipping the community with skills to understand and meet the challenges of violence and to encourage victims and perpetrators to seek help.
A longer term goal is to change attitudes and behaviours toward offending, condoning, tolerating and ignoring family violence

GALLERY

ABOUT

This program is an initiative of Maryborough Rotary that commenced in 2014. The aim of the program is to raise awareness of the problems associated with Family violence in our community.
Maryborough Rotary's intervention in 2013, was prompted by increasing reports of family violence in the region, Maryborough Rotary was moved into action, based on the premise that remedying the issue was the responsibility of everyone in the community who could help.
Among its first tasks was to link and consult with government and non-government agencies, to become informed about the issues and determine what Maryborough Rotary could do. It found a significant barrier to successfully tackling family violence was reluctance, and often fear within the community to openly discuss the issue. The broad cross section of rationale for ‘silence’ as anecdotally collated included:
- Not wanting to make the situation worse.
- A ‘what happens in the family, stays in the family’ attitude.
- ‘It’s none of my business’ response.
- Concerns about stigmatising the town socially and economically.
- Despair in the system: ‘it will come to nothing, just more grief for me’.
There was sufficient information to indicate that for some people, talking about the issue was regarded as taboo. Others, although recognising that family violence was unacceptable and wanted it dealt with, nonetheless preferred the issue not to be overly exposed within their district. These revelations provided a call to action by Maryborough Rotary. The organisation strongly believed that the lack of open conversation was a key causal factor for the problem remaining prevalent and largely untreated. As Maryborough Rotary is an organisation which believes in leading by example, one of its first steps was to make a public statement in the form of a White Ribbon oath, pledging to take a stand against family violence and to become strong advocates for its eradication. That experience seeded the motivation to put words into action. We decided that the campaign needed to focus on safety and providing a safe environment. We developed what we have named the ‘SAFE model’. SAFE stands for:
- Support (via information, education and delivery of specified projects);
- Advice (provision of expert advice, especially regarding marketing communications);
- Facilitation (bridging stakeholders and assisting comprehension of strategy and priorities);
- Early intervention (encouraging a proactive, collaborative community-based response).
The SAFE project aims to prevent or reduce the prevalence of family violence by mitigating its consequences through a number of initiatives, aimed to increase understanding of family violence, promote non-violent relationships and encourage conversation about the issue.

Help Lines

1800 RESPECT

MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978

TESTIMONIALS

Re: Maryborough Rotary Club #SayNO2familyviolence initiative.
To whom it may concern,
I am the Local Area Commander for the Central Goldfields/Loddon Police Service Area and have been in this position since September 2014.
Upon commencing in my position, I became aware of the Maryborough Rotary Club #SayNO2familyviolence initiative and the profile this campaign has within the community. Family violence needs to be eradicated in our communities and at previous work locations, I have partnered with external agencies to address family violence issues but this is the first time I have encountered a non-government or service agency that has been so active in raising the awareness of family violence. Some of the proactive initiatives I have observed include the following;
• Family violence Program wallet cards
• S.A.F.E. program banner working for a SAFE community.
• Speak up initiatives.
• Sponsorship of local football matches highlighting the need to address family violence.
• Campaigning against family violence in conjunction with Maryborough
Harness Club highlighting the issue across Australia by sponsoring the televised event. The passion of Maryborough Rotary Club to highlight and work towards eradicating family violence within the community is one of the most important and original initiatives I have encountered during my policing career. To continue their ground breaking work, I encourage any support that can be provided is given as I am confident actions groups like Maryborough Rotary in addressing family violence provides for a safer and more vibrant community.
Yours sincerely,
Paul GARDINER Inspector.

Maryborough Police

-why MDHS participated
MDHS has over 430 staff and is the largest employer in the region. Over 400 of these staff are female. Over 1/10th of the shires female population is associated to the health service. The reality for our health service given the statistics on family violence is that a significant number of our staff may at some stage have been affected by family violence. We have participated to tell our staff that no family violence is acceptable and we are here to help them.
Having such a community presence we believe we can also provide leverage to the message associated with the #Saynotofamilyviolence campaign.
- how is it progressing
The CEO of MDHS has written via internal memorandum to all staff outlining the commitment of the health service to this campaign. This memorandum also offered all staff access to support both via internal and external mechanisms as required. We are building a culture that the MDHS family is one that supports each other and this is reaffirmed through this campaign. Wallet Cards associated with the campaign are positioned in prominent positions throughout the health service is have been well received. MDHS has committed to the installation of a three metre sign at the Maryborough Campus which will be fully visible from Tuaggra St. This will be installed by end of December.
- the outcome/effect on the community from the campaign
A number and community members of staff have acknowledge the campaign and the terrific linkage between the health service and such a campaign. The public and highly visible demonstartion by the health service advocating the #Sayno2familyviolence campaign can only build support and acknowledgement...

Tara Cramer

Executive Assistant to CEO - MDHS

I would like to take this opportunity and say congratulations and thank you to Maryborough Rotary on their Safe #saynotofamilyviolence initiative for my home town Maryborough.
In 2016 The NAB will be looking to strengthen their relationship with Maryborough Rotary and is looking forward to seeing the #saynotofamilyviolence achieving their long term goal of changing attitudes and behaviours toward offending, condoning, tolerating and ignoring family violence in the community.

National Bank Australia

Adam Balzan
National Bank Manager Maryborough Branch

CONTACT

For general enquiries please fill out the below form.

What is abuse

Types of Abuse

Family violence can be ... Physical, Emotional or Sexual
– You don’t have to be hit to be hurt
– It can involve partners, parents, children, siblings, extended family, carers and past intimate relationships.
– It occurs when someone harms you, controls you or makes you feel afraid
– Just being exposed to family violence is damaging
A healthy relationship is when you are ...
– treated with respect
– safe and never scared
– free to say no
– free to make your own choices
– free to see your friends and family when you want
– able to be yourself
– able to compromise and say sorry.

Child Abuse

Abuse to children is when ...
– you physically harm or threaten to harm them
– they hear or see violence directed towards their parent or sibling
– you excessively criticise, reject or withold affection, praise or attention
– you use physical or social isolation as punishment
– you use them to get back at your partner and involve them in adult issues
A healthy relationship is when you are ...
– paying thoughtful attention to your child
– being respectful and empathetic
– communicating with your child and listening to them
– prioritising individual time with your child
– encouraging your child
– trying to understand things from your child’s perspective.

Silent Abuse

Silent abuse is when
someone ...
– purposely breaks your possessions or property
– harasses you through other people
– deliberately ignores you
– unfairly controls your money
– isolates you
– keeps checking up on you
– uses children to control you
A healthy relationship is when you are ...
– treated with respect
– safe and never scared
– free to say no
– free to make your own choices
– free to see your friends and family when you want
– able to be yourself
– able to compromise and say sorry.